Meat Imports

Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inspection is carried out at transit points for personal imports of foreign meat. [152381]

Ms Quin:
In the course of normal surveillance of individuals entering the UK, Customs officers do become aware of personal imports of foreign meat or meat products from third countries. Where they suspect the import is not permitted, they notify either local authority officials or MAFF officials where appropriate who take the necessary action. In most cases this involves seizing and destroying the product.

Meat Production Industry

Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the performance of the meat production industry; and if he will make a statement. [157897]

Ms Quin [holding answer 23 April 2001]: Once we have succeeded in eradicating foot and mouth disease, we shall be consulting a wide range of interests on how the meat production industry can most effectively be organised to provide consumers with the types and quality of meat products they wish to buy.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Mr. Stephen O'Brien:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total gross

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running costs to his Department were of the NDPBs accountable through his Department in the 1996-97 financial year. [157627]

Ms Quin:
Details of the net cost to MAFF of carrying out its NDPB sponsorship role in the financial year 1996-97 are shown in the 1997 edition of Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Dawn Cardington Abattoir

Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the owners of Dawn Cardington abattoir in Bedfordshire concerning a date for the re-opening of the abattoir. [156800]

Ms Quin [holding answer 4 April 2001]: I understand that the owners of Dawn Cardington took a decision to close their abattoir, stating that this was in order to protect their boning and cutting plant on the same site from the risk of infection with foot and mouth disease. The Government have sought to encourage operators in the red meat industry to participate in the market in as normal a manner as possible. Guidance to slaughterhouse owners has been issued by the state veterinary service on the consequences of a confirmed case being detected on their premises. This can be found on the foot and mouth website under moving livestock to slaughter at http://www.maff.gov.uk/.

Sheep Shipments

Mr. Paice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the sheep exported to France by Mr. H. Inizan on 31 January were slaughtered and subsequently tested for foot and mouth antibodies; [156435]

(2) if sheep confirmed as infected with foot and mouth in France spent time (a) in the same vehicles or premises as those exported by Mr. H. Inizan on 31 January and subsequently identified as antibody positive and (b) in the proximity of Mr. Inizan's sheep. [156434]

Ms Quin [holding answers 30 March 2001]: We are in touch with the French authorities to establish the circumstances relating to the export of sheep by Mr. H. Inizan.

Departmental Policies (Amber Valley)

Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Amber Valley constituency, the effects on Amber Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157133]

Ms Quin:
MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

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Consumers in Amber Valley will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Amber Valley. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

Departmental Policies (Lincoln)

Gillian Merron:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152983]

Ms Quin [holding answer 20 March 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

Consumers in Lincoln will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Lincoln. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

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Departmental Policies (Gorton)

Mr. Kaufman:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 30 November 2000. [154505]

Ms Quin [holding answer 16 March 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

Consumers in Manchester, Gorton will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Manchester, Gorton. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.